Phil Craig, leader of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG), is facing mounting pressure from South Africans who want him denied citizenship and deported.
Craig, a British national who has lived in South Africa for over 20 years, has been lobbying for the Western Cape to secede from South Africa—a move that critics say is divisive and racially charged.
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The CIAG describes itself as a political pressure group that seeks independence for the Western Cape through legal and democratic means. However, opposition to Craig’s cause is intensifying, with politicians, activists, and social media users calling for his removal.
Petition Calls for Craig’s Deportation
A petition titled “Keep South Africa Safe”, which has gathered nearly 50,000 signatures, accuses Craig of threatening the nation’s unity.
“As a proud Black South African, I am deeply disturbed by the actions of Phil Craig, a UK national who is causing division in our country,” the petition reads.
It further likens Craig’s campaign to apartheid-era politics, arguing that his Cape Independence push is an attack on South Africa’s hard-won democracy.
“The introduction of divisive ideologies from foreign nationals like Phil Craig threatens our progress towards unity and racial harmony,” the petition states.
It calls for Craig to be deported back to England, saying it would send a clear message that South Africa will not tolerate separatist movements fueled by foreign influence.
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Political Backlash Against Craig’s Citizenship Bid
In September 2024, Vuyo Zungula, leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), urged Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber to deny Craig’s citizenship application.
“Cape Independence would worsen the plight of marginalized Black communities, further deepen poverty and inequality, and strip them of constitutional protections and affirmative action measures,” said Zungula.
The movement has also gained traction on social media, with users condemning Craig’s activism.
“You need the guts of a bull to be a foreigner in a country and still advocate for part of it to break away. Phil Craig is shamelessly abusing his white privilege—any other race would’ve been deported long ago,” wrote Michael De Villiers on X.
Craig, however, remains defiant, insisting that the Cape Independence movement is democratic and legitimate.
The South African government has yet to comment on whether his citizenship application will be granted or rejected.
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